Scout Notes

The latest on Pope’s injury as Saint-Maximin exploits out-of-form Burnley defence

Our write-ups of Sunday’s matches begin with the early afternoon kick-off at Turf Moor.

A round-up of the day’s other three games follows at the bottom of this piece, with more detailed Scout Notes to follow on Monday.

BURNLEY 1-2 NEWCASTLE UNITED

  • Goals: Matej Vydra (£4.8m) | Jacob Murphy (£4.9m), Allan Saint-Maximin (£5.1m)
  • Assists: Chris Wood (£6.3m) | Saint-Maximin, Jonjo Shelvey (£5.3m)
  • Bonus: Saint-Maximin x3, Murphy x2, Shelveyx1

SAINT-MAXIMUM BONUS POINTS

After an uninspiring first half from the Magpies which Burnley ended 1-0 ahead, it was the arrival of the fit-again Allan Saint-Maximin (£5.1m) that sparked Newcastle into life at Turf Moor.

It took the Frenchman just three minutes to leave his mark on the Gameweek 31 clash as he took on the Burnley defence in the area before laying the ball back perfectly for Jacob Murphy (£4.9m).

The right wing-back slotted a scintillating effort in the far side of Bailey Peacock-Farrell‘s (£4.0m) net.

Five minutes later Saint-Maximin made it fairly certain he would pick up all three bonus points, with a slaloming run from just inside the Burnley half ending in the winger finding the corner of the Clarets’ net.

It could have been an even bigger haul for the FPL midfielder but for James Tarkowski (£5.3m), who blocked a Miguel Almiron (£5.6m) shot on the line after further excellent work from Saint-Maximin.

“I feel really great. Everybody knows this game is really important for Newcastle. I give this win to the supporters who couldn’t be here. I’m really happy to help my team with an assist and goal in this important game.

“I was really frustrated when we were losing 1-0 and I said to the coach I would like to have time [on the pitch]. [This win] is a big opportunity. We are six points over Fulham.

“Now we just have to keep going forward and try to do the best we can do against West Ham. It’s important to come back stronger after being injured.” – Allan Saint-Maximin

The winger was introduced at the same time as Callum Wilson (£6.5m), who was making his return from a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Of the pair, Steve Bruce said:

They weren’t capable of doing 90 minutes. The question was, can they make an impact? We’ve been without them for so long, you can see what they bring.

We know when we have people like them in the team, you can see the impact it has. Without our biggest and best players it’s been a struggle.

NO BLANK FOR CZECH

While Matej Vydra (£4.8m) just missed out on bonus points after Newcastle’s comeback, he continued to push his credentials as a budget striker option.

The Burnley forward scored from close range after Chris Wood (£6.3m) got down the left-hand side of Newcastle’s defence in the box before pulling the ball back for his strike partner.

Wood has five FPL attacking returns in his last four outings, with Vydra registering three goals and an assist in his five most-recent appearances.

“It was the same last weekend. We were so deep. The game totally changed and we lost again. In the Premier League, there is so much quality. We were unlucky because we just didn’t score that second goal. We have to be focused for 95 minutes. I don’t know what’s happened the last two weeks. We have to be focussed every single game and take some points because we have lost six points from last two games.” – Matej Vydra

BURNLEY LIVE IN POPE

Fantasy community eyes Burnley clean sheet in first Double Gameweek match

A shoulder injury ruled Nick Pope (£5.5m) out of action in Gameweek 31. Following the defeat, Dyche explained:

He made a save at Southampton and [hurt the shoulder]. It has settled down, so we were in risk and reward territory. We decided not to risk him. It has calmed down already.

Having given up a 2-0 lead against the Saints in Gameweek 30 to lose 3-2, the Clarets were again guilty of squandering an advantage.

They are the only Premier League team without a clean sheet in their last six matches and the Burnley boss reflected:

We’re a bit limited at the minute. It’s a strange season for us. We played well for a large period of the game last week and didn’t see it through. The same things has happened this week. We’re not a million miles away.

We have dominated a home game and they had a good five minutes and two key moments but that is sometimes a performance. I think it was our most dominant performance of the season statistically but the biggest statistic is the scoreline.

Bruce, meanwhile, was naturally delighted with three huge points for the Toon.

This win is big but there’s still a bit to go. Certainly, it’s a helping hand. It’s an important game, so to win it was very good. It’s been difficult with our injuries. You can see what Allan Saint-Maximin brings to the team. We’ve missed that bit of quality and excitement. To be missing your top players constantly, it affects teams.

Let’s hope our players stay fit. As good as I think I am, I need our best players. We’ve still got a long way to go, a lot of twist and turns as that’s what the Premier League is. For me it’s always been about the accumulation of points. There’s a points tally you have to get to and we’re creeping towards it. To come and win here is a big result for us.


Burnley XI (4-4-2): Peacock-Farrell; Pieters, Mee, Tarkowski, Lowton; McNeil, Westwood, Brownhill, Gudmundsson (Mumbongo 90′); Wood, Vydra.

Newcastle United XI (3-4-3): Dubravka; Dummett, Clark, Fernandez; Ritchie, Shelvey, S Longstaff, Murphy; Joelinton (Saint-Maximin 56′), Gayle (Wilson 56′), Almiron (Hendrick 90+2′).

ELSEWHERE IN GAMEWEEK 31…

Ill Aubameyang misses out as Xhaka starts at left-back

Some of the lesser-owned Fantasy Premier League assets from Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United took centre stage as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side triumphed 3-1 in north London.

Blanks for Harry Kane (£11.7m), Bruno Fernandes (£11.6m), Luke Shaw (£5.3m) and Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.7m) meant that four of the five FPL players with double-digit ownerships in this fixture didn’t deliver anything more than appearance points.

Only Son Heung-min (£9.4m) from this quintet popped up with anything meaningful, tapping Spurs into a first-half lead for his first goal since Gameweek 23.

Edinson Cavani (£7.8m) and Mason Greenwood (£7.0m) both registered two attacking returns apiece along with bonus points to supplement their scores.

It was far from a convincing audition for Spurs assets ahead of Double Gameweek 32, with their defence looking particularly suspect again.

Son topped the shot count and key passes table to further his case for inclusion in our squads next weekend but there was more misery for those who retained the services of Gareth Bale (£9.2m), who was benched for the third straight Premier League match; his total pitch-time over the last three Gameweeks comes to ten minutes.

Image

The phenomenal form of Kelechi Iheanacho (£5.9m) and Jesse Lingard (£6.4m) continued at the London Stadium, with both players bagging braces in West Ham United’s 3-2 win over Leicester City.

The pair are joint-top of the Premier League’s goalscoring table from Gameweek 22 onwards, which marked the start of both of their extended runs in their respective sides.

The in-demand pair were among the top three most-bought players of Gameweek 31 and rewarded their new and existing owners with double-digit hauls; this was Lingard’s fifth such return in nine West Ham appearances.

Also among the points was the injured Michail Antonio‘s (£6.6m) replacement, Jarrod Bowen (£5.9m), who teed up Lingard’s second goal and then scored what turned out to be the match-winner when converting Tomas Soucek‘s (£5.3m) pass.

It was a poor afternoon for owners of the defenders on show, with West Ham almost letting a three-goal lead slip yet again.

It’s one clean sheet in seven for the Hammers, one in eight for Leicester.

Vladimir Coufal (£4.6m) and Ricardo Pereira (£5.9m) at least partly compensated with assists but Aaron Cresswell (£5.9m) limped off with a hamstring injury, with his substitution marking the first time he has missed Premier League minutes this season.

James Maddison (£7.2m) and Ayoze Perez (£6.0m) were missing altogether from the visitors’ squad but their absences are thought to be for disciplinary reasons rather than injury-related.

Arsenal’s first clean sheet in 15 competitive matches predictably arrived at Bramall Lane, with a doomed Sheffield United side turning in another sorry showing.

Alexandre Lacazette (£8.3m) grabbed a brace in South Yorkshire, taking his total to 10 goals from Gameweek 15 onwards – a total that no other FPL forward can beat in that time.

Injuries and illness played a big part in the narrative in this plum fixture for the Gunners, with semi-popular differential punts Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.3m), Emile Smith Rowe (£4.2m), Martin Odegaard (£5.9m) and Kieran Tierney (£5.2m) all sidelined.

Bukayo Saka (£5.2m) limped out of the match midway through the second half with a thigh injury, meanwhile.

741 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Bavarian
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    what to do with Vardy? worth keeping?

    1. BIG TONES
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      If you're chasing then I would probably hold and hope for the best through the good fixtures. He's out of form though and no Maddy and Barnes seems to be hurting his output in my opinion

    2. Ha.
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Worth holding as a differential and at the very least hope for a penalty soon

    3. Begbie.
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Switch to Iheanacho and do some serious upgrading elsewhere with the change?

    4. dr. Phil
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      If you're looking for differentials try to find any with some semblance of form 🙂

    5. Bavarian
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Thank you all

    6. Hangman Page
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      I’d certainly retain him for the WBA game and then go from there.

    7. Party time
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Keep

    8. 3 A
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Players to get next season

      Norwich : Pukki, Buendia
      Watford : Ismailia Sarr

      1. Ha.
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        The same as last time then

        1. 3 A
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Yeah..

      2. Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Norwich assets only viable in the first 5-10 GWs, then they burn out and fall to relegation due to lack of squad depth. Sarr will be useless once again due to his inability to finish

        1. 3 A
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          If they learn from last season and buy some good players, it can be different hopefully. Lol

      3. CONNERS
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Norwich are in a much better financial position than they were prior to the start of the 2019/20 Premier League season.

        They used the PL money to clear debt and had practically no transfer budget.

        The board have assured supporters that this time they will have money to spend and have already line-up some targets for the summer..... we'll see I guess.

      4. Hangman Page
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Sarr is the one who interests me most from that trio.

      5. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Both defences also have around 20 cleansheets each IIRC

        Should be a few nice cheap defender options, and both GK’s will probably take over from Martinez as the go-to guy when EMI gets bumped to 5.5

    9. Ha.
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Jota > Lingard?

      1. fc_skrald
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        might be good but could be very wrong. difficult one

        1. Ha.
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Have triple pool but no spam

          1. fc_skrald
            • 8 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            you need the spam. go for it! two Liverpool players should be enough

            1. Ha.
              • 8 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              I was thinking Leicester would put up a bit of resistance and hoping to get JLingz in 33 for Gundo, but WBA fixture and current form makes him very appealing

      2. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        How many weeks have you held Jota for?

        1. Ha.
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          This is irrelevant

          1. Pukki Blinders
            • 4 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Completely relevant. Stop point chasing, you brought Jota in for a reason, likely within the last week

            1. Ha.
              • 8 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              This is a fundamentally flawed argument.

              Lingard is nailed and on form with a plum fixture next. Stubbornness shouldn’t get in the way of points.

              It’s not like I’m suggesting Martinelli.

              1. Pukki Blinders
                • 4 Years
                2 years, 11 months ago

                Jota v Leeds then Newcastle, followed by Soton WBA Burnley and Palace. You think that’s not plum? Probably the easiest load of fixtures you’ll see.

                1. Ha.
                  • 8 Years
                  2 years, 11 months ago

                  That may be, but the length of time I’ve owned him had no bearing on any of that.

      3. Casual Player
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Probably no

        Since you got Jota over Lingard, has anything really changed other than their most recent scores?

        1. Ha.
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          I thought Lingard would struggle with Antonio out, but that’s proven to be incorrect

          1. Casual Player
            • 3 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            That's a reasonable rationale. Doesn't seem like chasing. Just would hate to see people jump and then get mad when Jota scores 12 and Lingard 2 next week (hypothetically).

            1. Ha.
              • 8 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              As long as there’s TAA or Salah involvement I should be ok!

              1. pingissimus
                • 5 Years
                2 years, 11 months ago

                This is a fundamentally flawed argument.

                1. Ha.
                  • 8 Years
                  2 years, 11 months ago

                  Lol - a statement, rather than an argument.

                  Thanks for your input.

                  I understand ‘points chasing’, but it’s completely not relevant here.

          2. Goonsquad245
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Might still be correct

      4. dr. Phil
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        two players with very high upsides and form. Find a way to fit both in. Alternating between them will just result in missing the other's points.

        1. Ha.
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Ditch Gundo for a hit a long with one of Azpi or Dias...or wait a week and do it for free

      5. Hangman Page
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        It’s be nicer to have both. Of the two, I prefer Lingard because he’s a guaranteed starter.

    10. stu92
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Worth a wildcard or wait till next week?

      Martinez Sanchez
      Cancelo TAA Azpi Coufal Targett
      Bruno Son Gundo Jota Raphina
      Kane Antonio Bamford

      If I wildcard I’d be getting Lingard, Iheanacho, Dias as definites, and either Salah or KDB.

      1. Ha.
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I would WC

    11. Manumana
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Cresswell & DCL
      to
      Regullion & Nacho -4

      Yah or Nah ?

      1. Begbie.
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yes but wait until after tonight's games just to be safe.

        1. Begbie.
          • 10 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Unless you don't have anyone else in your team playing tonight of course then no harm doing it now I guess?

      2. Ha.
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yes

    12. HollywoodXI
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Was all set on bringing in Reguilon as my third Spurs player this week but after watching Spurs yesterday I’m now unsure if it’s worth it. Might just save my FT.

      1. Begbie.
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I was gonna switch Cancelo to him but don't trust Spurs or Mourinho so think I'll just do Shaw instead. Will probably outscore Reguillon even with just the SGW.

        1. HollywoodXI
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Funnily enough that’s who I may put in for Alonso

        2. Tango74
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          I want to sell cancelo to but can’t afford Reguillon and don’t know who is nailed for spurs def.

          Was thinking of coady .... instead

      2. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Save FT

        This Spurs defence is really poor - they were lucky to concede just the two to Newcastle and both Everton and Southampton have an attack.

      3. Rasping Drive
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Well, a lot of managers wrote off Arsenal after losing to an impressive Pool, discounting their previous performances. Spurs aren’t playing United every week, and with a double plus SHU in 34, Regulión is still a good pick.

    13. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      This weeks theory about Lingard being rubbish without Antonio failed, so let’s try again.

      Next week: Lingard won’t find any space behind Bruce’s deep lying Newcastle bus.

      1. Ha.
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Subscribe

    14. waltzingmatildas
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      If neto is out, which move looks best? I'd prefer to keep alonso but need 0.2!
      A) neto to lingard
      B) neto and alonso to moura and dallas (-4)

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        A

        Does feel though that Alonso might be exiled now as Palace was exactly his sort of opposition. Not worth the hit to lose him and Moura isn't that attractive imo.

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          But Chilwell could start the next couple vs Porto and City in the cups which may give Alonso a chance at starting vs Brighton as Chilwell will have started 4 in a row.

          1. waltzingmatildas
            • 13 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            I don't think alonso is never going to start a pl game again, and I think his upside is huge. I'd like to hold just as something different. Bench is strong enough to cover. Thank you!

        2. waltzingmatildas
          • 13 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          I don't know, moura's stats have been ok recently.
          But yeah, lingard feels like the better move. Cheers!

      2. Ha.
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        A

      3. Miguel Sanchez
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        A

    15. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Captain Son instead of Kane in their DGW if chasing?

      1. waltzingmatildas
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Could work

      2. Ha.
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        YOLO

      3. CONNERS
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        May as well if you have nothing to lose.

    16. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Thoughts?
      Auba and Gundo -> Lingard and Bruno -4? with exact cash. Will get rid of Dias and or Stones next week. Also scared of going without Jota.

      Martinez Areola
      Stones Dias Azpi Rudiger Burn
      Son Salah Auba Gundo Raph
      Bamford Kane Kelechi

      1. Ha.
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        What’s the appeal with Bruno? I feel I own him out of fear more than anything, and I wouldn’t be that worried without him at the moment.

    17. King Kohli
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Who would you prioritize for this team?

      A. Son (Will take a -4 to get him)
      B. Iheanacho(Free)
      C. Both for a -8

      Martinez
      Dias Azpi Rudiger
      Salah Bruno Jota Lingard Raphinha
      Kane Watkins
      3.9 Antonio White Struijk

      1 FT 2.6 ITB. FH left.

      1. Ha.
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        A

      2. The Ilfordian
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Or you could take the risk of swapping Son for Bruno (and Nacho for Antonio) - presumably for -4?

        1. King Kohli
          • 11 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Yes can do that but not sure if it is worth losing Bruno.

          1. The Ilfordian
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Yes, I think you're right. Bruno's has had low returns recently but I made the mistake of getting rid of him last time that happened and he immediately hauled. I got Nacho in for a hit this week and it worked out - there's an argument for both but I think HA is right, priority is Son (presumably lose Dias for the funds?).

            1. King Kohli
              • 11 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              Will lose Antonio and Raphinha if I do A.
              If I do Bruno + Antonio > Son + Nacho, I could FH in 33 to have Bruno for Leeds and 34 is Liv home anyway, so I can maybe get away with it.

              1. The Ilfordian
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 6 Years
                2 years, 11 months ago

                Sorry, I'm being dim - yes Ant and Raph for Son looks good.

                Yesterday was the first time I watched Utd without owning Bruno and wasn't worried. It's a risky choice but I wouldn't rule out the option of losing him. Incidentally, I heard Leeds had the best home defensive record in the league over the last 6 so possibly not the pushover either for Liv or Utd (although I'm still putting my money on Salah and Jota on the first of those two).

                I think it were me, I think I'd go with the Son for -4 and hang onto Bruno as Bruno is class and I've not usually got my points back from big hits, but it's a tough call.

                1. King Kohli
                  • 11 Years
                  2 years, 11 months ago

                  Cheers mate

        2. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          +1

      3. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I took a minus 4 to get Iheanacho for Watkins and Lloris for Pope. Probably less of a gain than your choice A. Antonio and Bruno will go and I think you will have a considerable net gain over the next 4 gameweeks.

    18. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Quite a gameweek so far.
      My option of increasing bench strength to cover Covid issues has, to some extent backfired. With 173 points sitting on my bench over the last 10 gameweeks, shows a waste of points that could have been. This week though I have come up trumps with Meslier (4 points) in for Pope, Watkins 8 points in for Mahrez, Coufal 4 points in for Alonso and Dallas 17 points in for Dias. A massive 33 point gain which is close to my on field score. A nice change in luck.

      I would love to know the tactics of other players to avoid fixture issues. Also only having a FH chip, am I wasting its benefit by plotting the possibility in the home fixture plans by the PL in GW36/37/38?

      Tnks in advance.

      1. Ha.
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        It always pays to have a strong bench. Benched points are frustrating but it’s generally a good sign.

        I would play FH sooner rather than later and capitalise on some good fixtures. Teams may be on the beach by the final few gameweeks.

        1. Eze Really?
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Sound advice but I think the "on the beach" situation is less than it might be normally. It could be season defining if fixture are played around with to accommodate home games. Obviously this is" Twitter Bias" and it irks me to be affected by it.

      2. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I've done better second half of the season despite massive hauls compared to the first half when it was all on the pitch.

        Think the fact that's there's only been two premiums worth having has skewed the second half of the season. It's really been a case of hitting the right budgets at the right times - there hasn't been any advantage in TV and getting all your value onto the pitch.

        Also with City rotation and irregular cameos there's been a solid case for a strong bench anyway. Counterfactually there was a good chance of 1-0 2-0 City win this week with no cameo from Gundo.

        Currently holding Watkins Raph Konsa Stones as bench and could well run with that or something similar to season's end. There's another DGW and quite possibly a significant BGW in 36 to come so see no reason to drain the bench

        The BGW in 36 may be as significant as the DGW in 35 possibly especially if Chelsea win in the cup. Arsenal/City in 35 followed a blank in 36 and Leicester in 37 doesn't look good for generic double defence.

        1. Eze Really?
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          We chatted a bit over the weekend and we have similar views. I think I am ignoring the real issues of being swayed by Twitter bias. This is the worst I have done by a country mile (350k) and if I am honest it has been created by chasing the ace. (Alonso, Mahrez, Laca etc)
          Villa, Everton and Soton can be worthwhile assets but IMO steer clear of the toffees. I was impressed with Stones vs Leeds and I would be tempted to hold onto him.
          I think avoiding cameos is the key.

          1. pingissimus
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Agreed on Stones

            Think I'd likely have kept him over generic Rudiger even had I had WC - simply more upside there and so easily benched. The actual Rudiger returns are nothing special despite the cs run. Suspect this is somewhere that BGW33 has skewed things a bit.

            1. Eze Really?
              • 9 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              having Rudiger is points projected when playing similar to Mendy. Stones for me is a hold provided you only have 2 Spurs in GW33

          2. pingissimus
            • 5 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            And the Everton form is really disappointing isn't it? I slightly screwed myself by punting on DGW30.

            Think there's still time for your lot to mess with the template. James must be key - he's one of those players who are priced really awkwardly and could throw things out, Given the injury crisis at WH it's not impossible that they will replace them as the team that surges late on. History and tradition against it of course ;-)7

            1. Eze Really?
              • 9 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              Yep. Stear clear of Everton. Ancelotti attract players but cannot coach new ideas. James too fragile and if he is not playing we have zero creativity. Hammers I am not sure about. Punching above their weight but Cresswell, Antonio, Rice, Ogbonna too much for them. They also panic in the second half and protecting a leed is not their forte.

      3. Rasping Drive
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        The legacy of my BB in GW19 went on for weeks, headaches every week with a plethora of points benched. I vowed to remedy the situation with this week’s WC but have still managed to bench 16 points with Forster to go. So I messed that right up!

        I think it’s fine to go cheap only if it allows you to buy players you want that you couldn’t otherwise afford. If you have everyone you want, why not fill your bench with more expensive options that will play? It’s better to have them than not, especially with rotation playing a significant part.

        1. Eze Really?
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          BB is more of a pain than gain IMO. Many of us did the same. Having Alonso, Citeh, Arsenal and other Chelsea will put the BB at risk.

    19. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Morning lads, is this BB worthy? Thx

      Mendy,Forster
      Phillips,Coady,Shaw,Fofana,Holding
      Salah,Jota,Neto,Bruno,Son
      Kane,Vydra,Iheanacho

      1. Ha.
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Yes assuming Neto is fit

      2. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        The Neto story?

        1. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Not sure but I got funds to get Bowen maybe or Gundo

          1. Eze Really?
            • 9 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Bowen Ok but Gundo rotation risk and defeats the object of BB

    20. Live Scoutcast Tues 8pm - leave your questions here
      J0E
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Scoutcast

      Feel free to leave your questions for us here.

      Plus one of the topics we will discuss is "unfairly unfashionable players"...players FPL managers may be unfairly dismissing despite promising form (eg Vydra). Let us know about any unfashionable players this season you have dismissed....or ones we may currently be dismissing.

      1. StoichkovFPL
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        For people with TC left is this the right time to use it (Kane vs EVE and Sou) or wait for another DGW??

      2. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Should I come out of retirement after a month off from FPL?

      3. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I think recent results have started Vydra, Laca, Jesus, Ings, Bowen, Perriera, Wilson, Holding, Chambers, Stones should all be on the map due to recent changes in circumstances. I really think possible big gains can be from:
        Martinelli, Chambers and a West Brom asset. It is whether i have the courage.

      4. circusmonkey
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Unfashionable players you could discuss: Bowen, Rashford, Lacazette.

      5. Nedvěd11
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Which players are set and forget for the rest of the season?

        IMO it is only Kane, Salah, TAA

      6. Ha.
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        At what point does 'points chasing' transcend in to 'form'?

        A lot of unfashionable players are seen as kneejerking, but there becomes a point where that is considered form and that individual is desirable. At what point do you get ahead of the curve?

        Laca, Lingard, Iheanacho and Vydra are all recent examples. Who's next?

        1. Flynny
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Midfield differentials till end of season. Eg havertz and greenwood

          I have cash for Sterling to Bruno but as I'm chasing could be in market for differential

      7. dunas_dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        With Spurs playing 2 games this week and then in final of League Cup on 25 April is there danger of rotation as Mourinho will go all out to win a trophy and therefore are we wrong not to consider single week players in captaincy thoughts- Salah or Jota v Leeds, Lingard v Newcastle, Leicester player v WBA ?

      8. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Cheese or Bread?

      9. dunas_dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Is Greenwood- 2% ownership and looking in form a good upside differential pick for the run in over Bruno or is FOMO making Bruno too risky to go without ?

    21. drughi
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      58 points all out on wildcard, plan is to save a ft but lingard is just killing me so thinking of taking a hit on neto and dias> lingard and shaw, just feels silly taking a hit right after wildcard. Take the hit or just save ft ?

      Mendy
      TAA Rudiger Dias
      Jota Salah Son Gundogan
      Vardy Nacho Kane (C)

      Forster neto holding konsa

      1. The FPL Units
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I'd take the hit.

        1. drughi
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          cheers

      2. Ha.
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        If Neto is confirmed out I'd be inclined to do it and bench Gundo

        1. drughi
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          thats what i'm thinking

      3. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Hit. Mad to think you don’t have him after wild carding.

        1. drughi
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          in hindsight yes but needed to do lingard>neto to afford phillips>TAA which paid off in that sense

          1. Rupert The Horse
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Fair enough but Lingard was the pick of the players before this week due to his remarkable form.

            1. drughi
              • 14 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              yeah thought leicester would be tougher and with rice and antonio out I thought they would struggle a bit plus neto had fulham sheffield burnley and west brom coming up. But my luck the last 2 seasons has been incredibly bad

      4. plt
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        I'd save the ft. I know it's difficult to think of what might happen and I used to throw away points on hits all the time for that reason, but half the time they don't work out. Since I stopped taking hits, I've climbed up the rankings - just broke into the top 40,000, as opposed to being more like a million before

        1. drughi
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          yeah its true but its been terrible last 10 gameweeks and kinda losing the plot but at this point I dont care to much, just seeing the season out which will be my last

    22. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      In one of my MLs like half the top 10 wildcarded and have exactly 77 points. Never seen a template quite like it.

      1. The VAR Team
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Haha, if I had gotten Son over Gundo I'd be on 77 too

      2. StoichkovFPL
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        77 here 🙂
        It was the biggest WC success that I can remember. My previous team would got me 50 points less (with DCL left to play). 50!

      3. Mr. O'Connell
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        In the same ML someone wildcarded to FPL Generals exact team as well last week. Lord give me strength.

    23. The VAR Team
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      For BGW33 would you
      A) FH
      B) play this team, and FH around the potential blanks and doubles later

      Mendy
      Trent Shaw Coady (Rudiger Holding)
      Salah Bruno Jota Lingard Maddison
      Nacho Vydra

      1. pingissimus
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Can't see that the FH template in 33 would be much different from that. Lingard isn't great that week but here aren't heaps of likely alternatives.

        I'd leave it to DGW35 or BGW36 if they happen. There's plenty of time for form to swing and someone like Pulisic to become highly desirable and out fo reach of the masses or just to punt on triple Everton say. On balance I think you're more likely to defeat the template that way

    24. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      What scores more:

      A) Martinez (MCI, eve)
      B) Lloris (eve, SOU, SHU) -4

      This is a move that will see me sell Pope for Lloris for a hit and not sell Martinez

      1. The VAR Team
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        As it's Spurs we're talking about: A

        1. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Good point

          1. Party time
              2 years, 11 months ago

              You filthy lucky pumpkin

        2. Ha.
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          I think they will both likely score 8 points, however B has greater upside

        3. Runaway
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          I am planning to do the same (Pope>Lloris and keep Martinez) but for GW32 only (WC34). It seems like Martinez's ceiling for City game is 5, on the other hand Lloris scored 16 in DGW26 (against easier opposition though). Realistically, I would expect Martinez to score in the range of 1-5 and Lloris 3-14. Not much in it but might worth the risk. (In your case, GW34 makes Lloris a bit more attractive).

      2. Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Is it worth a -8 doing Saka, DCL to Salah, Davis if you don't have a wc?

        1. Gudjohnsen
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Davis would be fodder but front 7 would be

          Salah, Jota, Lingard, Son, Bruno
          Kane, Ihenacho

        2. Ha.
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Why not wait a week?

      3. Slitherene
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        If I want to BB with this team next GW.
        What transfers would you suggest?

        Areola ¦ Sanchez
        Dias Shaw Coady
        Bruno Pepe Lingard Salah
        Kane Iheanacho Richarlison
        | Saka Alonso Phillips

        0.1 ITB, 1 FT

        1. Ha.
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Richarlison and Pepe to Jota and Laca

      4. tbos83
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Jota, Maddy or Lingard in for Salah? Need to reduce budget to make way for Kane

        1. Ha.
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Lingard

        2. Party time
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Is Salah injured

          • JabariParkersEyelid
            • 4 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            There has to be another way.

        3. Bavarian
          • 6 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Play 3 :
          A-Gundogan (AVL Away)
          B-Rudiger (BHA Home)
          C-Coady (SHU Home)
          D-Shaw (BUR Home)
          E-Coufal (NEW Away)

          1. Ha.
            • 8 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            BCD

          2. Party time
              2 years, 11 months ago

              ACD

            • drughi
              • 14 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              A, C and D

            • Begbie.
              • 10 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              BCD

          3. RAFA THE GAFFA
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Salah or Bruno >> Son? Will play the bench boost!

            Mendy
            TAA. Rudiger. Holding
            Salah. Bruno. Lingard. Jota. Gundog
            Kane. Iheanacho
            (Forster, DCL, Coady, Shaw)

            1. Ha.
              • 8 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              Bruno

            2. RAFA THE GAFFA
              • 7 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              I guess I have quite a lot tied up in Bruno. Salah would be an easier buy back

              1. Rasping Drive
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 14 Years
                2 years, 11 months ago

                Any money itb? tbh I would rather transfer out a defender for Regulion in your position. Bruno has such a strong fixture this week, and Salah isn’t far behind.

                1. RAFA THE GAFFA
                  • 7 Years
                  2 years, 11 months ago

                  Just 0.1

          4. Kitman
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            2 years, 11 months ago

            Would you swap any of these for Son

            - Mount
            - Jota
            - Raphina (plus sacrificing Lacazette)
            - Save Transfer

            1. Ha.
              • 8 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              Mount

            2. Begbie.
              • 10 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              Raphinha and do Laca to Iheanacho?

          5. Party time
              2 years, 11 months ago

              Why are people selling Salah? Want to know before I do the same

              1. Holmes
                • 10 Years
                2 years, 11 months ago

                No double digit score since GW21

              2. JabariParkersEyelid
                • 4 Years
                2 years, 11 months ago

                Only way to get Son I guess.

              3. Goonsquad245
                • 7 Years
                2 years, 11 months ago

                Temporary insanity probably.

            • Neves say Neves
              • 5 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              Start 2?
              A) Holding (FUL)
              B) Fofana (WBA)
              C) Coady (SHU)
              D) Rüdiger (BHA, playing Mendy already)

              Thanks!

              1. Traction Engine Foot
                • 6 Years
                2 years, 11 months ago

                A C

            • Traction Engine Foot
              • 6 Years
              2 years, 11 months ago

              Who should I get in for Gundogan?

              A Jota
              B Maddison
              C Moura
              D Keep Gundo

              Rest of midfield: raphinha, Son, Bruno, Lingard.

              1. RichRover
                • 11 Years
                2 years, 11 months ago

                A

              2. Party time
                  2 years, 11 months ago

                  D

                • Neves say Neves
                  • 5 Years
                  2 years, 11 months ago

                  Greenwood

              3. Assisting the assister
                • 8 Years
                2 years, 11 months ago

                Lacazette worth getting?